House Democrats, led by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, have called for an investigation into Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas for failing to disclose gifts and benefits from wealthy, politically active executives. The letter cites criticism from other members of Congress and calls for an investigation into Thomas’s actions, suggesting that if the court won’t reform itself, Congress should step in. The controversy has sparked a debate about ethics reform on the Supreme Court, and it remains to be seen whether the Attorney General will launch an investigation.
Posts tagged as “Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez”
A U.S. District Court judge in Texas ruled that the FDA's approval of mifepristone was illegal, sparking a debate over the future of abortion access in the United States. Democrats have called on the Biden administration to ignore the ruling, but the administration has yet to announce what action it will take. The FDA is expected to make a statement soon.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) has called for the impeachment of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas following a report that he had received gifts, including luxury trips, from a billionaire Republican megadonor without disclosing them. The federal judiciary has tightened its rules for what judges and justices need to include in their annual financial disclosure statements, sparking debate about the ethics of Supreme Court justices receiving gifts and the level of transparency and accountability of the Supreme Court.
Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas has been taking luxury trips paid for by a Republican megadonor for decades without disclosing them, prompting criticism from Democrats and calls for stricter ethics rules. Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) has called for Thomas to be impeached, while other Democratic lawmakers have argued that the court should be subject to the same ethics rules as other branches of government.
Garrett Miller, a 36-year-old unemployed Texan, was sentenced to 38 months in prison on Wednesday for his involvement in the Capitol riot on January 6, 2021. Miller had threatened Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on social media and was wearing a T-shirt with a picture of President Donald Trump when he was arrested. With credit for good behavior, Miller is expected to serve another eight months in prison, serving as a reminder that the consequences of participating in the Capitol riot are serious.
Rep. Angie Craig of Minnesota was assaulted in the elevator of her apartment building on Thursday morning, but is physically okay. The assailant fled the scene and the incident is not believed to be politically motivated. This attack is a reminder of the need for increased security for members of Congress, as other members have recently been targeted in hate-filled attacks.
At a House Oversight Committee hearing on Wednesday, Twitter executives faced questioning over their handling of a 2020 New York Post story about Hunter Biden's laptop. It was revealed that Twitter had previously changed its policy to protect former President Donald Trump from consequences for breaking the rules, and had requested the removal of a tweet from model Chrissy Teigen insulting the then-President. The hearing highlighted the complex relationship between social media platforms and the government, and the ongoing debate about content moderation.
On Thursday, the House of Representatives voted to remove Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) from her seat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, largely along party lines. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) gave an impassioned speech in defense of Omar, alleging that the vote was motivated by racism and Islamophobia. Her speech was met with applause and support from other Democrats in the House, who argued that the vote was not about Omar's comments, but rather about targeting women of color.